Jingo Django
Sid Fleischman
Jingo Django
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Sid Fleischman
The text is written at a 4th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content is mild with minimal sensitive material.
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About This Book
Jingo Hawks races through the bustling streets, clutching a mysterious map that could lead to untold treasure. Suddenly, a shadowy figure blocks his path—friend or foe? The chase has only just begun!
Themes
Quick Assessment
Jingo Django by Sid Fleischman is a lively middle-grade adventure about an orphan named Jingo Hawks who teams up with a clever con artist in a thrilling hunt for buried gold. The story combines humor and suspense, making it an engaging read for children ages 9 to 12. It’s an ALA Notable Book with a reading level suitable for grade 4.5 readers.
Why we rated Jingo Django 9LE
Jingo Django is written at a Level 4-5 reading level across 176 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 5.5 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, Jingo Django works for readers up to grade 6.5.
We rate Jingo Django as 9LE ("Light — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Mild" range — mild conflict — the kind a child encounters in normal play and sibling life. Across our four dimensions (emotional, physical, social, thematic) the book reads as evenly mild; no single dimension stands out as a concern.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the mild intensity score.
Thematically, Jingo Django explores adventure, friendship, humor, and buried treasure — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about adventure, friendship, humor.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers looking for something heavier — this is a gentle, low-stakes story by design.
For Parents
Content Intensity
9LE — Light — EmotionalLight conflict or tension. Mild peril resolved quickly.
Was our "Mild" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
3/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
1/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780440410393
- Pages
- 176
- Publisher
- Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group
- Published
- February 1, 1995
- Type
- Fiction